A New Beginning

  “At least you’re back with the girls,” Mark said. “Beth and I enjoyed having them, but they belong with you.”

  “We appreciate your looking after them so well,” Josiah said. Beth couldn’t have children, but he hoped once she and Mark got married they’d consider adoption. They’d make wonderful parents.

  Tragedy had brought them to the city, but although Josiah’s heart hurt for those they’d lost, he couldn’t help but be glad to be there. He’d been reunited with his babies and, if he was honest with himself, he’d missed the human world. For everyone else, though, living in the city was a difficult adjustment.

  “I’d missed the girls so much.” He stared out the window at high-rise buildings and crowded streets. They still didn’t know if Sadie and Sophie would be shifters, and at this point Josiah wasn’t sure if he wanted them to be. If the pack remained in the city, being more human than werewolf would be a lot easier for the girls.

  “How’s River adjusting?” Mark asked.

  “About as you’d expect. He has his good days and bad days.”

  “I have some good news,” Mark said. “We’ve managed to get in touch with all the human benefactors who’ve granted land to the werewolf packs in the vicinity, and we’ve had the land legally signed over to the Congress. That way the packs won’t ever have to worry about a benefactor’s descendant deciding to renege on the deal.”

  “That’s great, Mark!”

  “Eventually, we hope to have all packs in the United States.”

  “Where’re you getting the funding for all these projects?”

  “We’ve been doing some fund raising.”

  “And people are actually giving money?”

  “Even those who don’t like werewolves can appreciate the effort to keep packs on pack land,” Mark said.

  Josiah shook his head. “You’ve done so much since you’ve taken over as president. I’m proud of you.”

  Mark grinned. “Thanks. I like being in control, and I like knowing I’m helping you guys.”

  “That’s a one-eighty from how you used to feel,” Josiah said. “Even before David drugged you.”

  “Just goes to show we can all change our mind about things. Let’s go have lunch before I take you back.”

  Josiah followed his friend out of the conference room.

  * * * *

  The next day, Josiah brought Sid with him to meet Jaime and the omegas at the safe house. The beta had been at loose ends since the death of his mate, and Josiah wanted to help—despite being a tad jealous of Sid. He didn’t really think River was attracted to Sid, but Josiah did know the pack alpha felt responsible for any widowed member of the pack.

  Josiah and Sid had walked to the congress building, which was about four miles from Jax’s apartment, only to be chastised by Jaime, who said he would have gladly given them a lift if Josiah had told him they needed one. Mark had taken the day off to be with Beth, who was feeling sick.

  “How do you like the city?” Jaime asked Sid conversationally. “Must be pretty different from what you’re used to.”

  Sid was quiet, but his dark eyes seemed to absorb everything. “I think I’ll like it,” he said, and Josiah’s mouth parted in surprise. He hadn’t even considered Sid might enjoy the city. He’d never asked, and that made him feel like a heel.

  “There’s a lot to do here,” Josiah said. “Once we’re in a better financial situation, I can show you.” Although River won’t approve.

  Sid’s mouth turned up at the corners—the first thing even close to a smile Josiah had seen from the beta since the attack in the forest—and nodded his head before going back to gazing out the window.

  “Almost there,” Jaime said as he pulled onto a rural road lined with large trees. The car crossed a railroad track, bumping Josiah and Sid in their seats.

  Jaime slowed the car as he made his way up a gravel drive. Ahead sat a dark red, two-story building with several windows and a double door at the top that probably once had been the hayloft. A front and side porch had been added to the structure to make it look more like a house than a barn.

  By the time the trio had climbed out of the car, the front door had opened and a group of men began to gather on the lawn. One walked forward to greet them. He was middle-height and large boned with dark hazel eyes that observed Josiah and Sid a little warily as Jaime introduced them. His name was Keith, and Josiah surmised he was the equivalent to a first omega of the group.

  Josiah smiled at Keith and shook his hand, laying his other hand on top with a gentle squeeze rather than going in for a hug, as Keith didn’t look receptive.

  The group of men appeared to range in age from around twenty to perhaps thirty-five. All sniffed the air and watched Josiah and Sid warily. Keith visibly relaxed at the warm contact of Josiah’s hands and stepped a little closer. Soon all the omegas were huddled together, offering the comfort of touch that was the foundation of the omega bond.

  “Josiah used to work at the Congress before he moved to River Wolf Pack,” Jaime told Keith.

  Josiah smiled. “When I heard about your refuge, I had to see it.”

  “Not much to see, but it’s a lot better than the sewer,” Keith said as he led them inside.

  Josiah’s eyes ran over what had obviously once been a cavernous space. A few rooms had been blocked off, the raw wood of their partitions standing out against the darker wood of the walls, and newly built stairs led to a hayloft that had been expanded into several rooms. Kerosene lanterns glowed on tables set around a couple of long, dark green couches. A small kitchen with a pot-bellied stove could be seen over the dividing bar.

  “This is nice,” Sid said.

  “We like it,” a short omega with blond-brown hair said with a smile. “I’m Sandy.” He nodded to Sid and Josiah. “It’s way better than the sewers.”

  “Gods, yes,” the others agreed.

  They sat together and had tea, relaying everyone’s backgrounds. Most of the omegas had come from packs that had either broken up due to lack of resources or had been attacked by humans. A few had been kidnapped from packs seeking omegas and managed to escape. All had been on the run, and rumor had sent them to the sewers.

  “Up until Jaime introduced us to Mark, we hadn’t had any good experiences with humans,” Keith told them.

  “He’s a good guy,” Josiah said. “One of my best friends growing up.”

  “And you grew up here?” Sandy asked.

  “Yeah. I didn’t know I was part werewolf until I went into heat,” Josiah said. “Now I’m mated to the pack alpha. River’s willingness to negotiate with humans caused our pack to turn against us, and we had to leave. Now there are only a few of us.”

  “He trusts the humans?” one of the youngest omegas asked. He looked like he thought River had been stupid to do so, and Josiah was glad his mate wasn’t present. He also ignored the present tense—trusts. Josiah wasn’t at all sure River still trusted the humans.

  “Yes. He wants to end the animosity between us. Besides, I’m half-human. We’re not so bad.” He grinned, and the young omega gave him a small smile.

  “Where are you living now?” someone else asked.

  “A friend’s apartment, until we can find someplace bigger.” Josiah didn’t want to go into the struggle they were having, so he changed the subject. “Do you know any of the werewolves who aren’t omegas?”

  “We’ve only talked to a few,” Sandy said. “Betas, and a couple alphas when we weren’t in heat. A lot of them work in the factories downtown. They never found out about us living in the sewers, or they would’ve been at our doorstep wanting to mate. I hope they don’t find out about this place.”

  “We’re working on getting some betas to live in a couple of the outbuildings so they can watch over you,” Jaime told them. “It’d be good work for them.”

  “I don’t know if you realize this,” Josiah said, “but a lot of packs would love to take on omegas. Our former pack recently traded five omegas to a pack in A
labama who wanted to increase their numbers. That’s always a possibility for you.”

  “We’d pretty much be breeders,” Sandy said, mouth turning down.

  “Essentially, but respected and appreciated ones.”

  “No, thanks, “Sandy turned away, but Josiah thought a few of the others seemed interested. Time would tell. Josiah hoped they’d feel comfortable enough with him to ask him for help if they decided that’s what they wanted.

  They sat and talked for a while. Josiah was curious about the pregnant omega, but Josiah only got a glimpse of him when he came down the stairs to get something in the kitchen, skirting the area where everyone sat talking.

  “We’d better go,” Josiah said when he saw it was getting dark. He wanted to get home before River did. Although River knew better than to try to order Josiah to stay at home, Josiah didn’t want to throw more worry onto River’s plate than he already had, and Josiah hadn’t told River he was going out. He’d resolved to fill his mate in on everything.

  Josiah and Sid said goodbye, promising to visit again soon. The visit had gone well, and Josiah was pleased to realize he’d formed a bond with the omegas. As a beta, Sid had been accepted, though he’d remained quietly listening and absorbing much of the time.

  Rather than drop Sid and Josiah off where they’d met at the Congress, Jaime drove them to Jax’s apartment.

  “I can’t believe you walked this far,” he kept saying, bringing it home to Josiah just how out of touch the other omega was with his species. Walking four miles was nothing to the average werewolf.

  “You should talk to Mark about helping you guys get a car.”

  Mark had mentioned it, but when Josiah had tried talking about it to River, the pack alpha had shut him down with an abrupt, “We don’t need charity,” before walking away.

  When Jaime pulled up at the curb in front of Jax’s apartment building, Josiah and Sid climbed out of the car.

  “Thanks for the ride,” Josiah said.

  “Not a problem. Anytime you need one, let me know. You have a cell phone?”

  Josiah shook his head. Jaime looked disbelieving, but only said, “Well, tell Mark, and he’ll get in touch with me.” Jaime waved and drove off, and Josiah and Sid headed inside.

  Josiah wanted to tell River about where he’d been, but when the first omega and Sid entered the apartment, raised voices alerted them to trouble.

  Leo stood in the middle of the living room being restrained by David, with Jax a few feet away looking pissed. River still had on his jacket and shoes from work. The werewolves always slipped off their shoes first thing since they weren’t accustomed to wearing them and considered the things highly uncomfortable, so Josiah knew River must have walked in on whatever was going on when he came in the door.

  The pack alpha’s eyes snapped with ire as he turned to David. “If Jax is going to stay with us, you need to talk to him about some things. He clearly isn’t respecting our ways.”

  “Excuse me?” Jax interrupted. “First of all, I’m standing right here. Talk to me, not David. He doesn’t own me. Second, this is my apartment, remember. I won’t be treated like a second-hand citizen.”

  David made a grunt of disapproval that was almost immediately covered by River’s growl. Josiah stepped forward and put a hand on his mate’s bulging bicep. River was about two seconds away from charging Jax.

  “I’m sure this is all just a misunderstanding,” Josiah said. “Let’s sit down and talk about it.”

  “Like hell,” Leo said through clenched teeth. The big alpha’s long, strawberry-blond hair lay disheveled about his broad shoulders like some kind of crazy hood, and his bare, muscular chest heaved, tight abs quivering just above the waistband of his jeans.

  “What happened?” Josiah asked.

  River’s temper, carefully contained since they’d entered the city, appeared about to blow. Unleashing it on a human could be fatal.

  Jax was a fool. Josiah liked the human, but he never seemed to have fully embraced werewolf society. No surprise, since he refused to take the bite and become one of them.

  Sid stood to the side with Brooks, and Foster had his arms wrapped around a trembling and clearly upset Sam. Briar stood next to them softly stroking Sam’s dark hair with Kane behind him, arms crossed over his chest as though waiting for a signal from their pack leader.

  “I found this human alone with my mate,” Leo said, words barely audible through the growl rising up from his chest.

  Josiah turned to Jax. “Is this true?”

  River stepped in front of Josiah so he stood only inches from Jax. Josiah could feel the savage pheromones of an angry alpha pouring off him, and the deluge of testosterone weakened the omega’s knees. River clearly wasn’t going to allow anyone else to deal with the problem at hand. Josiah only hoped it wouldn’t escalate.

  “Explain yourself. Why were you in the bathroom alone with Sam?”

  Josiah glanced at Sam, who now had his face buried in Foster’s neck.

  “For God’s sake, I didn’t know he was in there,” Jax said.

  Josiah was amazed the man could stand up to the angry alpha. He was either very brave or very stupid.

  Leo took a step forward, dragging David with him. “My mate was naked.” Murderous intent shown in the big man’s eyes, and Josiah saw the slightest hint of unease manifest on Jax’s face. Leo looked like he wanted to pull Jax apart one piece at a time like a small child might a bug.

  Jax took a step back but continued to defend himself. “That’s because Sam was in the shower. I just didn’t know it. The door was unlocked, and—hell! I’m not used to sharing my apartment!”

  “You would have heard the shower,” River said.

  “He hadn’t turned it on yet. He’d just stepped in there.”

  River turned to the huddled group by the wall. “Sam?”

  Sam jerked his head out of the crook of Foster’s neck at the pack alpha’s commanding voice. “He’s telling the truth. I-I had just stepped into the shower when I heard the door open.”

  “What did Jax do then?” River asked.

  “H-he said, ‘Oh, I didn’t realize-’ and then Leo barreled in.”

  Foster patted Sam on the back before pulling him closer. The beta coyote would make a good omega, Josiah thought, the way he comforts with touch. Briar kept his hand on Sam’s shoulder, soothing him with the omega bond.

  “It sounds as though it was an accident,” River said to Leo.

  “He should know to be more careful!” Leo’s shout resounded in the room, and Sam immediately went to him. Leo’s demeanor gentled slightly as the trembling omega burrowed into his alpha’s embrace.

  David stepped away from Leo, and River turned his angry gaze on his second-in-command. “I expect you to have a conversation with Jax. This kind of thing is never to happen again.”

  David gave a nod and shook out his arms, muscles no doubt strained from holding Leo so tightly. “Let’s go, Jax. We could use some air.”

  Jax’s eyes slowly disengaged from Leo’s, as though the human didn’t trust the alpha not to attack him when his back was turned, and he followed David out. Brooks looked after them as though unsure about following. In the end, he stepped toward Leo and put a hand on the big alpha’s shoulder as though to relay to his friend his regret for his human mate’s actions.

  “Not your fault,” Leo murmured, and after a few more tense seconds, the group dispersed.

  Josiah let out a breath of relief. He looked at River’s tense face and bit his lip. Sid had left the room, and this was the perfect opportunity for Josiah to tell River about the omega refuge.

  River ran his hand through his hair. Several long strands had come out of the leather thong at his nape, and he yanked at the tie, letting the dark tresses fall loose down his back.

  “This has been a shitty day,” he said with feeling.

  Maybe not such a perfect opportunity.

  “What else happened?”

  “The nightclub was c
rowded tonight, and one of the other bouncers called in sick. I almost had to get rough with a guy who I’d turned away for not having an ID who’d tried to sneak in anyway. I’m always afraid I’ll forget and let loose.”

  Killing a human, which as a werewolf alpha River could easily do, would have terrible repercussions, not only for River and his pack, but for werewolf/human relations.

  “You wouldn’t do that,” Josiah said. “You have great control.”

  River gently pulled Josiah into a hug and kissed him until Josiah felt drugged with love and the rush of pheromones between them.

  “Thanks for the vote of confidence. Yours, the girls’, and the pack’s safety are my constant incentive.” He kissed Josiah again and sniffed him. “You smell like strange omegas.”

  Josiah opened his mouth to tell River where he’d been, but the door opened to a scowling David and Jax.

  Josiah felt as well as saw the look that passed between River and his childhood friend. Jax muttered under his breath and disappeared into the kitchen.

  “Did you make him understand?” River asked David.

  “I tried.”

  David looked tired, and Josiah couldn’t help but feel sorry for him. If he didn’t know how much the alpha loved Jax, Josiah would think David would be better off ending the relationship.

  “As much as he doesn’t get about us, we don’t understand about humans,” David said. “Male humans have a need to stand their ground, too. In Jax’s eyes, he did nothing wrong. He didn’t know Sam was in the bathroom, and he would have immediately exited, but Leo came roaring in before he could. Then Leo was all up in Jax’s face, and his pride wouldn’t let him back down. Still, I explained how protective an alpha’s instincts are, even though he should know that already.”

  River grunted. “I don’t like living here and taking his charity, and the only reason I’m allowing it is for the good of the pack and because Jax had received our hospitality until we left the compound. I’ve found a place, but we don’t have the money to buy it, and I don’t know if we’ll be able to raise it before the place is sold to someone else.”